Evaluation

I came back to Edinburgh to do this course as a highly motivated individual, but also with a lot of fears, worries and uncertainties. I knew I wanted to get into Uni and I knew this course would put me back into the learning environment. I was fairly confident that I would be able to adapt my ‘teacher’ lifestyle to being a student without too many problems. My expectations? I guess I had hoped for something more academic, but that’s to do with the path I wish to follow. Clearly, there has to be a practical element to this course.


One of the most positive experiences was meeting and getting on with my class mates, many of whom are considerably younger than I. It was great learning to work together, and being able to help some people. Hopefully, I can also say I won the respect of my teachers! Other good points were that I became comfortable on the ‘other side’ of the classroom and used that freedom to investigate the directions I felt to be interesting, as well as what I had to.

The course could be improved by:
• Microsoft Word tutorial at beginning of course
• Essay writing tutorial near beginning of course
• The 2 points above could be used to prepare for writing the UCAS personal statement
• Separate English language component for non-native speakers
• Clearer guidance about plagiarism – still a lot of fear & uncertainty
• A clear document for each subject detailing assessments & assignments to be passed; Scott had an excellent one for Communication

My own performance has been above satisfactory! I have passed all elements of the course without undue effort or stress, although the level did allow me to take certain liberties: I should have worked harder on my notes taking. I have remained generally motivated and patient; and have tried to look on the bright side when faced with adversary and disheartenment. I have tried to help my peers both when I am in college, and through email. Since Easter, things have dragged a little and I’ve felt frustrated with some of the restrictions placed on the course content by the practicality of exam preparation.

I'd say that I have learned more about myself and my learning processes than anything of great significance within the subjects. Maths & French served to remind me of skills I had studied before. Literature & History extended the level and scope of my abilities within these subjects. Communication confirmed some of my strengths. Spanish challenged me to convert my knowledge into more accurate constructions. I fine tuned my abilities to make and keep commitments, to set workable timetables and to prioritize.

Live long and prosper

Monday 17th

Last week continued to be a period of disruption due to ankle pain, and the London trip. However, I handed in the History essay, read more of Cochrane, did another mock Spanish Higher and worked on Literature. So life goes ambling on! Oh, and I got good news from SAAS about finance for next year!

I had a wee meeting with Madeleine, and she reckons I’ll be fine. It was a bit frustrating as I would have liked to talk more but so it goes. I’ve got nearly 2000 words for the comparative essay which is too much, but I’ll let Madeleine worry about that.

This week all I’ve really got to do is 

Work on my “Enduring Love” essay

Write about Cochrane – I’ve got a pretty clear idea of the direction

Do Spanish homework

And that’s all folks!!

10th of May

I’m sat at home with my ankle in an elevated state today...it’s my own silly fault for running through the pain, and it’s definitely taken its toll over the last week! Once again I realise how reliant on good health, both physical and mental, I am. It’s been difficult to really get into work of late due to aches and pains. Still, at least I’ve taken some positive steps to move on from past mistakes.


We’ve been doing a lot of exam practice in Spanish, and Jordi has been giving out writing assignments which, I hope, has got me back into the groove! I really should get a better dictionary...Marta seemed to have a good one.

I’ve been making slow but steady progress on the Literature work...I really enjoyed reading “Enduring Love” again, and I’m happy to summarise the plot, but I’m not certain about analyzing the ‘writer’s craft’. I have a check up meeting with Madeleine tomorrow. The comparison essay is also unclear...I could write loads, but it’s only supposed to be 1,500 words. I need to seek advice, and one should never be ashamed to admit that!

Wrote and handed in what I think is a damn fine history essay on the Treaty of Versailles. However, Evan has dished out the Hitler one, and wants it in for this Friday!!!! Now, I didn’t like that so I took positive proactive action and wrote 1,900 words of it over the w/e. That required me to speed up the whole investigate, write, consider, re-write and so on process. A pity as I feel that I build up a clearer picture and hence a better essay by doing some work then looking at it again after some time away. Fresh perspectives and all that jazz! But the Hitler one looks OK, so I’ve proved I can bang out an essay over 36 hrs or so. Oh, and we’ve got to do another bloody in-class assessment so that’ll have my hands aching!

It would have been useful to have been given a handout with brief details of ALL the essays, assignments, assessments, projects to be passed AT THE BEGGINNING of the course. Ah well, what goes on....